Opinion

During last week’s Harrison County Fiscal Court meeting, county leaders discussed giving pay raises to county employees.

Judge Alex Barnett recommended a 5 percent increase “based on the financial condition” of the county.

From the discussions around the table it appeared magistrates were weighing in on both sides of the issue. However, all were in agreement that the men and women who make up the county’s payroll work hard. That’s never been the issue.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

We would like to thank everyone who gave to the Christmas Angel program this year. We appreciate the tremendous generosity and support which was received. With your giving, over 500 children were served. Thank you for helping make Christmas a very special time in the life of a child. Merry Christmas and have a wonderful holiday season.

The Christmas Angel Committee

Paula Barnett, Patty Dacci, Monica Mattox, Gina Owsley, Judy Feeback, Linda Sexton and Vickie Faulkner... and all the CEC elves that worked day and night

Revelation 21 tells of the start of the eternal day and what God has prepared for all of his people. No other passages in the Bible are like the last two chapters of Revelation. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth are passed away and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for husband.”

“Just the facts, ma’am,” said Sgt. Joe Friday in nearly every segment of Dragnet.

Jack Webb portrayed Sgt. Friday in probably the first of many cop shows. He used that statement when a witness strayed too far from what he or she actually knew to be true and began to delve into hearsay or rumor.

I pulled those profound words from my memory recently when a plethora of rumors began circulating through our community gossip mill. Funny how they apply to my job as well.

Smoking should not be banned from public places. It’s pointless to argue against it because the effects would be the same if you banned it.

Companies will lose smokers’ money. Non-smokers may choose to leave a restaurant if they wish. If you ban smoking it wouldn’t matter to peoples’ health because it’s still in the air, no matter what. If it’s banned, people will go elsewhere to buy their cigarettes and local tobacco sellers would go out of business.

I’ve always enjoyed reading, but just on a casual basis. I would get a book and read on it for a couple of weeks. However, sometimes I go on marathon reads. I have been known to still be awake trying to finish a book when my husband gets up for work at 5 a.m.

I believe that smoking should not be allowed in pubic places in Cynthiana. Smoke affects everyone you are around, and it is not fair to people who do not smoke. Not only that, but employees would be forced to work in an environment they don’t like. If the smokers really want to smoke so badly, they can wait until they are not around others.

If you’ve ever wondered what members of Congress do to earn their keep, the current health-care debate on Capitol Hill should give you a good idea. This complex legislation, placed on the congressional agenda by President Obama but shaped by the intense give-and-take of the legislative process, is a perfect window into our democracy.

My usual church time is the Saturday night service. If I do go to church on Sunday, I prefer going at 9 a.m.

A few weeks ago, however, I went to the later Sunday morning service because I was meeting someone afterwards for a newspaper story I was working on.

On Saturday nights, I like to watch the sky through the giant arched window above the stage area in the sanctuary. At this time of year, the sun sets while church is going on and dusk is gorgeous, with the sky changing from blue to amber to black.

On Nov. 18 and 19, the co-operative extension service hosted “Recipe for Reading” for all fifth grade students in the Harrison County Public School System. During this time students were taught kitchen techniques, measuring, the value of reading and the food guide pyramid.

During the strong winds last Thursday, traveling on Lafferty Pike, I came upon a large fallen tree in the road at the top of a hill. Several cars had stopped as two men with a chain saw, in the rain, were clearing the road. In no time all vehicles were able to pass safely, including one man who came back in the line of cars, put the chain saw in his car and left.

The 2009 Hoopin’ on the Hilltop basketball tournament was hosted by the Harrison County Boys Basketball Boosters over the weekend of Nov. 20. The success of this event is due to the support of several local businesses, including McDonald’s, Snappy Tomato Pizza, Southern States of Cynthiana and Hinkle Construction.

Operation Christmas Child was a great success this year in Harrison County. Last year our community collected just over 700 boxes for this ministry. The total for this year was 834. Wow!

We would like to say thank you to our community in supporting this ministry. Whether you gave a monetary gift, an empty shoebox a filled shoebox or items to be placed in shoeboxes or maybe all you could do was pray, it was all deeply, deeply appreciated and will change the life of a child somewhere in the world.

Good news for all you cranky pants people: According to an Australian study, thinking negatively and being sad may actually be good for you.

The study, conducted by a psychology professor at the University of New South Wales, showed that people with negative moods seem to be less gullible and better able to judge other people and their surroundings.